The Power of Place: All stories happen somewhere. From Middle Earth to Mars, from New York to Narnia, setting has always been an essential part of fiction. Whether the setting is real or imagined, it is our objective as writers to invite readers into the world of our story and hope they stay for a while. Besides coming alive through vivid descriptions, setting can perform several important functions such as revealing character, creating conflict, and advancing the plot. When writing about real places, it is important to think about ethical issues surrounding their portrayal. In short, place is a promising and potent tool at our disposal. In this class, participants will read excerpts from published works, complete short writing prompts, discuss challenges they may face, and learn techniques to use the places they know well – or don’t know at all – more effectively in their fiction.

About the Instructor: Oindrila Mukherjee grew up in India and now lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she teaches creative writing at Grand Valley State University. She has a PhD in literature and creative writing from the University of Houston and an MFA from the University of Florida. She has been the recipient of fellowships from Emory University, Inprint Houston and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. She created a series called Bottom Shelf for the Indian magazine Scroll, where she discusses lesser known or forgotten books with an Indian connection. She also serves as a contributing editor for Aster(ix), a literary and arts magazine committed to social justice. Her debut novel, The Dream Builders, was published in the US by Tin House Books in January, and is forthcoming in the UK, Australia, and India.

*Space is limited - only 15 spots available. Lunch is not included.